amphiscians

[am-fish-ee-uh nz, -fish-uh nz]

plural noun Archaic.

inhabitants of the tropics.

Also am·phis·ci·i

[am-fish-ee-ahy] /æmˈfɪʃ iˌaɪ/.

Origin of amphiscians

1615–25; < Medieval Latin Amphisci(ī) (< Greek amphískioi, plural of amphískios (adj.) casting a shadow both ways, equivalent to amphi- amphi- + skí(a) shadow + -os adj. suffix) + -ans, plural of -an

Word Origin and History for amphiscians

Amphiscians

1620s, from Medieval Latin Amphiscii, from Greek amphiskioi "inhabitants of the tropics," literally "throwing a shadow both ways," from amphi- "on both sides" (see amphi-) + skia "shadow" (see shine (v.)). Inhabitants of torrid zones, so called because they are "people whose shadow is sometimes to the North, and sometimes to the South" [Cockerham, 1623].